Sew Much More Than Fashion: Marie King's Passion for Design and Community

Photo Credit: Karen Presecan Photography

Marie King, the driving force behind Lok Custom, Lok Fashion Academy, and Lok Fashion Institute, is a name synonymous with fashion and education in the Stafford area. As a fashion designer, owner, and founder of these thriving ventures, Marie has devoted her life to empowering others through her unwavering dedication to style and nurturing new talent.

Marie's unwavering commitment to her craft and the education of others is evident in everything she does. "I wanted to create a space where creativity could flourish, where people could learn and grow in this industry I love," she said, describing the mission behind her fashion academy and institute.

At the heart of her educational endeavors is the Lok Fashion Institute and Academy, which prepares students for a career in fashion by providing them with a dynamic and immersive experience. "We give students a fun experience with authentic learning and project-based activities," Marie shared. The Institute and Academy foster an environment of creativity, innovation, and independent learning while maintaining a solid career focus and an international perspective. Marie emphasized the importance of inclusiveness and community within the academy, noting, "We want our students to feel like they are part of something bigger, where they can express themselves freely and grow personally and professionally."

Marie's own journey in fashion was fostered by her mother, another fashion designer.

"I can't remember when I wasn't sewing," Marie said, her love for design palpable. Growing up in the Caribbean, Marie made all her clothes and even dolls as a young girl. Her love for design has been a constant, a passion that has driven her to excel in her field. Her educational background is as rich as her career, with years of study in fashion design, internships that honed her skills, and experiences that shaped her unique perspective.

Marie has called Stafford home now for over 30 years, but she has a storied history of living in various places and being immersed in various cultures. She first came to the States at age 16 with her mother, calling New York home. Her love for fashion blossomed there, and she took a more formal approach. Like her mother, she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and immediately found work in the renowned Garment District of New York. She worked for Maharaja Designs, living in New Delhi, India, for five years, where she met her former husband, who was in embassy detail at the time, and returned to New York as a project manager. As project manager, she worked closely with FIT graduates, fostering their love of design and fashion and helping them launch into their careers in the fashion industry.

Soon after, Marie was launched into life as a military spouse, marrying a Marine and uprooting her life in New York to move to Camp Lejeune. 

"I didn't work when we moved to Camp Lejeune," she recalled, "because nothing there paid me what I was worth." Finding work– especially meaningful work– and maintaining one's own high-paying career is a struggle that any military spouse can relate to, and Marie was no different. She decided to immerse herself in hobbies and volunteering and get acclimated to her new life. 

"Being a military wife, wherever you are, you make it home," Marie explained. She did just that: playing tennis, riding horses, volunteering for Navy Relief, and– of course– still sewing. Friends caught on, and it was then that Marie decided to launch her first business. When she moved to the Quantico area, she launched her umbrella of Lok businesses. Her now-grown son, Khal, still lives in the area, so she has some local family, but many of her clients and former students have also earned that title.

It's not uncommon for Marie to design a wedding dress for a former student and join in the fun at the wedding celebration years after their graduation from Lok Academy. She enjoys watching her students grow up and serving as a mentor to many. She'll proudly share stories of her past students as the walls of her design studio are adorned with their runway photographs and showcases of their unique, custom designs.

What she enjoys most about living in the area is the sense of community and the connections she has formed. "I enjoy meeting people at work and socially," she remarked, underscoring her outgoing nature and deep love for her community. 

Marie's interests extend far beyond her professional life. She has a deep love for the culinary arts, theater, and travel. Her appreciation for good food is matched by her love of the arts, mainly theater– she'll find any excuse to take in a show at Riverside or head north to Broadway–  and her desire to explore the world. 

"I enjoy experiencing the culinary scene in our area," she shared, listing New Orleans Bistro, Sky Bar, and Zibibbo 73 among her favorite local spots. Her adventurous spirit and global perspective are evident in her travels to the Eastern Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa and in her designs as well.

"Traveling opens your eyes to new influences and different colors," Marie explained. "You design and adapt as you go." Marie loves adapting old patterns and designs and making them her own. "If you want a run-of-the-mill thing, go to the store," Marie said. "When you know your subject matter, you can change and create something new and exciting– when you don't, you must go by the book, which becomes boring."

Boring isn't in Marie's vocabulary. She loves creating custom designs and unleashing her creativity. For example, she's currently making a tailor-made suit for a Black Santa Claus; evidence of her travels is woven into the design. 

When she's not working, mentoring young designers, or traveling, Marie enjoys the area's natural beauty, mainly the walking trail on Government Island. "The walking trail on Government Island gives you an appreciation for nature," she noted.

Marie King is not just a fashion designer; she is a community figure, a mentor, and a woman of varied interests and deep connections to her surroundings. She's woven her story of passion and creativity into the heart of her businesses and the community she's created here in Stafford– and we can’t wait to see what she designs next!